Nurse notched a power-play assist, four shots on goal, three hits and two PIM in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks in Game 3.
Nurse snapped a four-game dry spell with his helper on a Mattias Ekholm tally in the first period. The 29-year-old Nurse has been limited to two assists over eight playoff outings, and he's added 17 shots on net, 13 hits, 22 blocked shots and a minus-6 rating. He's played on the second pairing, with Ekholm leapfrogging Nurse for a spot alongside Evan Bouchard on the top pairing. Nurse can still add some physicality, but his offense is likely to be limited with less ice time.
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Oilers' Evander Kane: Helps out on power play
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Kane notched a power-play assist and four hits in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks in Game 3.
Kane hadn't posted a power-play point since March 23. The winger, who missed time late in the regular season due to a sports hernia, has four points, 21 shots on net, 30 hits and 15 PIM over eight playoff contests. He's primarily played in a middle-six role and on the second power-play unit, so his scoring contributions are likely to remain limited to a supporting level.
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Oilers' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: Contributes power-play assist
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Nugent-Hopkins logged a power-play assist and two hits in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks in Game 3.
Nugent-Hopkins has six helpers over his last four games, with three of them coming on the power play. Through eight playoff outings, he has a goal, nine helpers, six power-play points, 11 shots on net, 15 hits and an even plus-minus rating. He's centered the second line in that last two games as head coach Kris Knoblauch attempts to spark the Oilers' offense by uniting Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl at even strength.
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Oilers' Mattias Ekholm: One of each Sunday
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Ekholm scored a power-play goal on four shots, dished an assist and added two PIM in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks in Game 3.
The Oilers' second power-play unit made a rare contribution, with Ekholm getting the opening goal. He also set up Evan Bouchard in the third period, bu the Canucks controlled the scoring in between those tallies. All three of Ekholm's goals this postseason have come in the second round, and he's added two assists, 16 shots on net, 10 hits, 12 blocked shots and a plus-4 rating through eight playoff outings overall. The 33-year-old should continue to see his even-strength minutes on the top pairing alongside Bouchard.
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Oilers' Evan Bouchard: Produces pair of points
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Bouchard scored a goal on six shots and added a power-play assist in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks in Game 3.
Bouchard has a six-game point streak going, and he's earned four points over three outings in the second round. The defenseman was at the center of the Oilers' comeback push Sunday, but the effort fell short. He has three goals, 10 assists, 30 shots on net, 14 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating over eight playoff appearances while playing in a top-pairing role with ample power-play time.
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Oilers' Leon Draisaitl: Two points in loss
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Draisaitl scored a power-play goal on five shots, dished an assist and added two PIM in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks in Game 3.
Draisaitl got the Oilers within a goal in the second period and helped out on Evan Bouchard's tally in the third, but it wasn't enough. The 28-year-old Draisaitl has multiple points in seven of eight playoff contests, the lone exception being the Oilers' 1-0 win over the Kings in Game 4 of the first round. He's at seven goals, 11 helpers, 35 shots on net, eight PIM and a plus-3 rating this postseason.
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Oilers' Calvin Pickard: Makes relief appearance
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Pickard stopped all three shots he faced in relief of Stuart Skinner in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks in Game 3.
This was Pickard's first playoff action this spring, and he did fairly well, though the Canucks were mostly nursing their lead while he was in the game. Head coach Kris Knoblauch didn't name a starter for Game 4 on Tuesday in his postgame comments, per Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic, which leaves open the possibility Pickard could get a start now that the Oilers trail 2-1 in the series. The 32-year-old went 12-7-1 with a 2.45 GAA and a .909 save percentage in 23 regular-season appearances as Skinner's backup this year.
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Oilers' Stuart Skinner: Pulled from Sunday's loss
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Skinner allowed four goals on 15 shots in Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Canucks in Game 3.
Skinner played the first two periods and saw a little more ice time late in the third after some gamesmanship from head coach Kris Knoblauch. Skinner's play remains a serious concern -- the Canucks have fired 58 shots at him over three contests, but he's let in 12 goals while losing two of those games. The Oilers were able to cover the 25-year-old in the first round, but they've had less success in that regard against the Canucks. Per Daniel Nugent-Bowman of The Athletic, Knoblauch wouldn't commit to sticking with Skinner for Game 4 on Tuesday. Calvin Pickard made three saves in Sunday's contest, but veteran Jack Campbell could also be an option should the Oilers get desperate in the next week.
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Oilers' Stuart Skinner: Guarding cage Sunday
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Skinner will get the starting nod at home against Vancouver on Sunday, Thomas Drance of The Athletic reports.
Skinner helped tie the series at 1-1 by stopping 16 shots in Friday's Game 2 victory. He's struggled so far against the Canucks, yielding eight goals on 43 shots in two contests. Skinner has won five of his seven postseason starts despite registering a lackluster .888 save percentage in the process.
Henrique (undisclosed) won't play Sunday in Game 3 against Vancouver, Tony Brar of OilersTV reports.
Henrique saw 11:38 of ice time in Game 2 on Friday after missing Game 1 with a lower-body injury -- likely the same injury that will sideline the veteran forward Sunday. Henrique has a goal and an assist in six postseason games, both coming in the opening contest of Edmonton's first-round matchup with the Kings. Connor Brown will reenter the lineup in Henrique's absence.
Oilers' Ryan Nugent-Hopkins: Logs power-play helper
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Nugent-Hopkins posted a power-play assist, three shots on goal and four PIM in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks in Game 2.
Nugent-Hopkins has eight helpers over his last five games, but he hasn't scored a goal since the postseason opener. The 31-year-old centered the second line Friday with Leon Draisaitl moving up to the top line to play alongside Connor McDavid. Nugent-Hopkins has experience as a center, but it's better for his overall game when he's playing alongside McDavid or Draisaitl. Nugent-Hopkins is up to nine points, 10 shots on net, 12 hits and an even plus-minus rating through seven playoff outings.
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Oilers' Zach Hyman: Adds helper in win
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Hyman logged an assist, four shots on goal, two hits, two PIM and a plus-2 rating in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks in Game 2.
Hyman helped out on Connor McDavid's equalizer in the third period. The 31-year-old Hyman has been held off the scoresheet just once in seven playoff outings, earning nine goals, two assists, 28 shots on net, 23 hits and a plus-5 rating. He was overshadowed a bit with McDavid and Leon Draisaitl joining forces on the top line, but Hyman has had no trouble carving out offense regardless of who is on McDavid's opposite wing this season.
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Oilers' Mattias Ekholm: Tallies in Game 2
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Ekholm scored a goal on two shots and went plus-2 in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks in Game 2.
Ekholm was limited to one assist over five first-round games versus the Kings, but he's now scored a goal in each of the first two contests in the second round. The 33-year-old defenseman doesn't have to put up offense to be useful, but it doesn't hurt. He's contributed 12 shots on net, 12 blocked shots, nine hits and a plus-4 rating in addition to three points through seven playoff outings. Ekholm should continue to see heavy defensive minutes in a top-pairing role.
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Oilers' Evan Bouchard: Seals win in overtime
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Bouchard scored a goal on five shots and went plus-2 in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks in Game 2.
Bouchard tallied at 5:38 of the extra session to give the Oilers the win after they never led in regulation. The defenseman continues to excel in the postseason with two goals and nine assists through seven appearances. He's added 24 shots on net, 14 blocked shots and a plus-6 rating while playing on the top pairing.
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Oilers' Leon Draisaitl: Fills stat sheet Friday
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Draisaitl scored a power-play goal on four shots, dished three assists, added two PIM and went plus-2 in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks in Game 2.
Not bad for a guy who was considered a game-time decision after dealing with cramping issues in Wednesday's Game 1 and skipping practice Thursday. Draisaitl was involved in all of the Oilers' goals, including scoring their first one of the game. He was listed on the first line with Connor McDavid rather than centering his own line, though both players shared faceoff duties. Draisaitl is up to six goals, 10 assists, 30 shots on net and a plus-3 rating through seven playoff outings, and he's yet to be held off the scoresheet this postseason.
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Oilers' Connor McDavid: Four points in overtime win
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McDavid scored a goal on five shots, added three assists, logged three hits and went plus-2 in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks in Game 2.
McDavid's goal in the third period forced overtime, and he had a helper on the other three goals the Oilers scored in a back-and-forth game. The 27-year-old's exceptional playmaking has continued into the playoffs -- he has two goals and 15 assists through seven postseason appearances. McDavid has added 19 shots on net, 15 hits and a plus-4 rating. He could be poised for even stronger offense than usual if head coach Kris Knoblauch keeps McDavid and Leon Draisaitl together moving forward.
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Oilers' Stuart Skinner: Wins Game 2 in overtime
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Skinner stopped 16 of 19 shots in Friday's 4-3 overtime win over the Canucks in Game 2.
Skinner had another poor outing, but the Oilers' dynamic duo of Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl made up for it with four points each. Over the last three games, Skinner has allowed 11 goals on 64 shots, but he's managed to win two of those contests. The Oilers managed to break the Canucks' home-ice advantage -- the series is tied at 1-1 heading back to Edmonton for Game 3 on Sunday and Game 4 on Tuesday.
